For four days in December, Lincoln is transformed into a magical festive destination offering a shopping experience, live entertainment, fairground, food, drink and good cheer as the city hosts one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world.

For everyone planning to attend in 2017, we asked the event organisers, City of Lincoln Council, to reveal what you can look forward to on December 7-10.

Many who visit Lincoln Christmas Market, especially local residents, like to see the German heritage of the event celebrated. Claire McDowall, Principal Events and Culture Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, says as well as German stalls the legacy will weave through the entire event.

Lincoln brought the first traditional German Christmas market to the UK as part of its twinning with the town of Neustadt located in Rhineland-Palatinate, a southwest German state.

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"The first year was in 1982 and we’ve continued to strengthen that relationship through the years," explains Claire.

That very first market in 1982 saw just 11 stalls in Castle Square, but now the market takes over most of the cultural quarter with more than 200 stalls nestled in and around Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Westgate, The Lawn and many other venues and streets along the way.

Castle Hill and Lincoln Castle is where you will find the authentic German-themed stalls, arts, crafts and gifts.

“The FFN [Feucht Fröhliche Neustadter] attend year on year. So we have a Glühwein stall selling the traditional German Glühwein and they do a mug that has become a bit of a collectors’ item and they change that every year. So it’s that feeling of a very authentic German market that hits you, not just with the look and feel but also the smells.

“There’s a German association of Feucht Fröhliche Neustadter and a Lincoln-based one. The FFN in Lincoln has gone over to Germany for their Christmas market in Neustadt but also often go to the wine festival that the town holds as well [Weinfest held each October in Neustadt]. Both will be at the Lincoln Christmas Market - usually we have a stall for the Lincoln counterparts in Castle Hill and the Germans are in the castle."

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Glühwein is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, citrus and sugar.

Feucht Fröhliche Neustadter actually translates “damp, happy Neustadter”. Mark Brewer, business manager for FFN Lincoln Section, says: “We promote the wines of the Palatinate region and the twinning of the two cities. Christmas market mugs made in Germany will also be on sale. We also now do teas and coffees on our stall, and hot chocolate and we do Irish cream coffee and Irish cream hot chocolate.

"We are actually a voluntary organisation and over the years have raised over £1 million for local charities and good causes and are once again at the Lincoln Christmas Market to raise money.

"The pitch we are in, we have been there right from the first Lincoln Christmas Market and have been there every year except the year it was cancelled."

It was representatives from the Lincoln FFN and City of Lincoln Council that went over and brought the Christmas Market back.

Mark Brewer selling German Glühwein on the FFN Lincoln Section stall

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Elsewhere around the market there will be plenty of other German tastes to explore.

Claire continues: “Within the castle we also have traditional German biscuits and throughout various areas of the market there are other traditional German specialities like the Bratwurst and Currywurst giving that real flavour of the German food.”

As well as the German theme, there are other time-honored aspects of Lincoln Christmas Market everyone loves and makes the event very special.

Have you got a head for heights? The Big Wheel at Lincoln Christmas Market (Image: Anna Draper/Lincolnshire Echo)

“Another thing tourists and residents love to look out for is the very traditional Lincolnshire produce as well. From the traditional Lincolnshire cheeses to haslet, you’ll find those throughout the market.

“The Big Wheel will return for another year, a great opportunity for people to take in the sights of the city with those amazing views you get on high. For the thrill seekers out there we also have the return of Freak Out – a high octane fairground ride. Adrenaline junkies like that one.

“We have had stalls for years that sell traditional Christmas decorations and those are often a very popular souvenir of the event or present for friends and family. It’s all about getting people into that Christmas and festive mood, and maybe being able to do a bit of more unique Christmas shopping.

“Everyone has little traditions when they visit the market. Different people also have different fond memories of different areas.”

The castle grounds are bustling during the Lincoln Christmas Market (Image: John Jenkins/Lincolnshire Echo)

As you move through the market, the distinctive areas have a contrasting feel to them. As well as Castle Square and castle grounds, over at The Lawn complex visitors will discover the Christmas Bazaar, Christmas Pantry, and a huge variety of food and drink. Around Westgate will be more stalls, the Craft Marquee and fairground rides.

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“Another thing we’ve been doing for the past three or four years is the live entertainment in terms of music and buskers. Again we will have this entertainment dotted throughout the market and there’s a real mix with individual performers and groups. It’s really nice to have that live atmosphere with the performers.”

Outside Lincoln Cathedral West Front will be the location for a marketplace of authentic wooden chalets and the opening ceremony on the Thursday evening.

“What an amazing backdrop to have for the chalets, in Lincoln Cathedral. It’s a bit of a nod to the German markets again, traditionally they host their markets within chalets. That’s another thing we wanted to do as well to give the event that traditional feel.

“We work closely with the cathedral for the opening ceremony that happens on the Thursday at 6pm. That’s on the steps of the cathedral with the Mayor alongside representatives of Neustadt and colleagues of the cathedral. Thursday is still very much traditionally the ‘locals’ day and evening."

As part of the Christmas Market celebrations, the Lincolnshire Hospitals Band will perform two free concerts at Lincoln Cathedral on Saturday, December 9 at 2.30pm-3pm and 3.15pm-3.45pm in the Nave.

As well as the 200 official Lincoln Christmas Market stalls, other events join in at the same time adding even more for visitors to enjoy.

One of those events is the Medieval Christmas Market at the Medieval Bishops’ Palace where you can step back in time and browse the themed stalls in a unique, historic surroundings.

Claire adds: “English Heritage coincided their market at the same time with ours and they have a lot of unique food and gifts, obviously concentrating on the historical and medieval, so there’s quite a mix of different things in there and it’s got a lovely atmosphere.”

Don’t forget the Artists’ Christmas Village, a Lincoln BIG event also running alongside the Lincoln Christmas Market in St Martin's Square, which offers items from local artists and crafters on December 8 and 9 (10am-9.30pm) and December 10 (10am-7pm).